USCIS Announces New Measures to Detect H-1B Visa Fraud and Abuse
Adopts ‘More Targeted Approach’ to Site Visits
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has announced several new measures it will implement to identify employers deemed to be abusing the H-1B visa program.
New Measures
Effective immediately, USCIS will take a “more targeted approach” when making site visits across the country to H-1B petitioners and the worksites of H-1B employees, in an effort to deter and detect H-1B visa fraud and abuse. Specifically, USCIS will focus on:
- Cases where USCIS cannot validate the employer’s basic business information through commercially available data;
- H-1B-dependent employers (those who have a high ratio of H-1B workers as compared to U.S. workers, as defined by statute); and
- Employers petitioning for H-1B workers who work off-site at another company or organization’s location.
In addition, USCIS will continue random and unannounced site visits nationwide.
Reporting Potential H-1B Fraud and Abuse
USCIS has also established an email address to which individuals can submit tips, alleged violations, and other relevant information about potential H-1B fraud or abuse. Information submitted to the email address will be used for investigations and referrals to law enforcement agencies for potential prosecution.
Click here for more information on the new USCIS measures.
